Centrifugal pumps

ABSTRACT

THE INVENTION RELATED TO A SELF-PRIMING ROTODYNAMIC CENTRIFUGAL PUMP AND MORE PARTICULAR TO THE NOVEL VERTICALLY SPLIT CASING, THE CYLINDRICAL PERIPHERAL CLOSING RING AND NOVEL IMPELLER EMBODYING A FLUTED CONICAL IMPULSOR PLANETARY DISC AND SPHERES OR &#34;PLANETS&#34; WHICH ALSO ARE THE MAIN IMPELLER SUPPORT AND BALL BEARINGS, THE VERTICAL &#34;O&#34; RINGS AND ANNULAR GASKET SEALS SOLUTION TO EXPANSION AND CONTRACTION AND THE RECIRCULATION PASSAGE AND AIR PASSAGE PORTS FOR THE PRIMING CYCLE.   D R A W I N G

United States Patent q ftig 1451 Sept. 5, 1972 [54] CENTR IFUGAL PUMPS I 3,187,191 6/1965 Baggs ..415/202 3,216,366 11/1965 Bjorklund ..91/498 [72] Inventor: Luis R. Pagan Fortis, l 12 Whitley Drive, 0 'i 0Wn, Pa. 19401 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [22] Filed: May 19,1971 103,660 7/1926 Austria ..416/4 [211] Appl' N05 144,983 Primary Examiner- Henry F. Raduazo 52 US. Cl "g s 211 [57] ABSTRACT The invention related to a self-priming rotodynamic le 0 can i centrifugal pump and more particular to the novel I vertically split casing, the cylindrical peripheral closing ring and novel impeller embodying a fluted 5 References Cited conical impylsor planetary disc and spheres or planets which also are the main impeller support and ball UNITED STATES PATENTS bearings, the vertical 0 rings and annular gasket l seals solution to expansion and contraction and the 2,532,899 12/1950 01111081., ....416/4 recirculation Passage and air Passage Ports for the 3,037,488 6/1962 Barrett "91/493 Pr mjg cl M w 3 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures VI; E

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sheaf 3 or 4 PATENTEDSEP 5 1972 saw u Bf {1 Hill? INVENTOR:

FIG.IX

FIGJZUI plurality of radicallyopposedfcgtivef spheres or planets; saidspheres or planets basically substituting the blades or vanes in prior art impellers.

In operation, the fluted impulsor disc while rotating causes the spheres to displace gyrating'in a circular tha described d t t d by t gqislin jshe races provided for in the inside face of the casing.

Thus mechanism is provided whereby a static priming residual or added liquid at the bottom of the casing is impacted by the spheres, rotated at high velocity and radially diffused by centrifugal force into a uniform restricted annular chamber. A substantial amount of this priming liquid is forced under the cutwater wall where air is strainedfrom the liquid by scrubbing and allowed to escape to discharge atmospheric pressure; through a port provided for at the root of the cutwater wall. Thus air strained liquid is recirculated to the bottom of the casing to reinforce the already established priming cycle.

Action as described above creates pressure differential at the face and behind the impeller causing additional liquidto be led from the intake line to the'c ent er and through the impulsor disc where the axially flowing liquid is set in fast rotation and outwardly diffused at. high velocity to a restricted uniform annular chamber by centrifugal force absorbed from the fluted impulsor disc and the rotating, gyrating spheres.

The liquid, compelled to flow along the restricted uniform annular passage by the peripheral tangential vector of the impeller, is given initial direction by a self-adjusting liquid volute created under the cutwater wall. Upon completion of a peripheral travel along the annular passage, the flow is then intercepted by the cutwater wall and directed to a tangential discharge port.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION The principal oBjEiBi the invention is rd provide a new and highly improved centrifugal pump which is simple in construction, economical to manufacture,

economical to operate and which strongly and definitely upgrades the inherent low efficiency of prior art.

A principal object is to offer designers, manufacturers and users freedom from the highly restrictive manufacturing, assembly and operational tolerances 60 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there are shown in the drawings forms which are presently preferred; it being understood however. that this invention is notlimited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

FIG. I shows preferred embodiment of the invention with outboard casing removed and the cylindrical closing ring sectioned.

FIG. II shows section y-y generally following lines of section y-y in FIGS. I and VI, spheres TQEQL cQt FIGS. VHI and the device.

. 7 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring generally to the drawings wherein the showings are for the purpose of illustrating a pre- 1 ferred embodiment of the invention only and not for the purpose of limiting same, the figures marked in Roman numbers show an axial feed, unmounted self-priming rotodynamic planetary centrifugal pump of undefined size and mass.

In more detail, the device in a preferred embodiment, consists of a vertically split casing of newdesign in which the outboard casing 1 embodying the intake port 2 and the inboard casing 3 are separated by a cylindrical peripheral closing ring 4 embodying a closing ring4 edges prevent leaks and act as lateral expansion cushions. A peripheral cylindrical flat sealer gasket 8 that can be permanently adhered to the closing ring 4 is provided for vertical expansion.

The novel impeller housed by the casing consists of two parts: a fluted planetary disc 9 and a plurality of Spheres or planets l0 radially opposed and nested in holes generally in the periphery of the disc. The planets 10 are kept in a restricted path by the guiding circular cheek races C provided for in the inside face of the casings.

The rotable axle 11 is loosely coupled to the impulsor disc 9 by engaging a square portion D of the axle and a corresponding square opening D in the center of the impulsor disc 9. This articulated condition allows the impulsor disc 9 lateral oscillation or movement along the tangential contact surface market j.'l in FIG. II. A designated clearance or play between the impulsor disc hub and washers 12 allows but limits such lateral motion that in prior art is directly transferred to the axle.

Axial bearing, as contemplated by the invention, will also be eliminated by providing a liquid laminar support cushion in all contact points between axle l1, impulsor disc 9, spheres and circular guiding cheek races C". Thus restricted, articulated and highly lubricated arrangement is provided, capable of adjusting to deviations due to internal or external operational stresses resulting from impact, friction or wear. In addition, passthrough ports 17 in the impulsor disc allows hydraulic pressurization of the inboard chamber G adding shock absorbing dynamic stability to the impeller. This flexible, self-lubricating, statically and dynamically balanced mechanical train permits, as shown, the elimination of unwanted,

destructive axial thrust and axial bearing stresses usually inherent in prior art. The final recipient of the stresses is the liquid being pumped.

In operation, the fluted impulsor disc 9 while rotating causes the spheres 10 to displace gyrating in a circular path as described and restricted by the guiding cheek races C provided for in the inside face of the casing.

Thus mechanism is provided whereby a static priming residual oradded liquid at the bottom of the casing is impacted by the spheres 10, rotated at high velocity and radially diffused by centrifugal force into a uniform restricted annular chamber E. A

substantial amount of this priming liquid is forced under the cutwater wall 14 through set back dents 15 where air is strained from the liquid by scrubbing and allowed to escape to discharge atmospheric pressure through a port 16 provided for at the root of the cutwater wall 14. Thus air strained liquid is recirculated to the bottom of the casing to reinforce the already established priming cycle.

Action as described above creates pressure difierential at the face and behind the impeller causing additional liquid to be led from the intake line to the center and through the impulsor disc 9 where the axially flowing liquid is set in fast rotation and outwardly diffused at high velocity to a restricted uniform annular chamber E by centrifugal force absorbed from the fluted impulsor disc 9 and the rotating, gyrating spheres 10.

The liquid, compelled to flow along the restricted uniform annular passage E by the peripheral tangential vector of the impeller, is given initial direction by a self-adjusting liquid volute F created under the cutwater wall 14. Upon completion of a peripheral travel along the annular passage E the flow is then intercepted by the cutwater wall 14 and directed to a tangential discharge port 5.

Further particulars of the invention points to a low power requirement characteristic, largely due to minimum operational friction and slippage, but mostly, theoretically, to the advantageous mechanical radii ratio between spheres 10 and the impulsor 9 as translated to a full circumferential sphere gyration and a full sphere rotation along the guiding cheek race.

Thus assuming a two-inch spherical circumference in the sphere or planet and an eight-inch circular cheek race travel or full rotation, the theoretical ratio will be four. Meaning that for every rotation of the impulsor disc 9 the sphere will gyrate or spin four times. Logically a 1000 RPM on the impulsor disc will produce 4000 GYPM (gyrations per minute) in the spheres. Needless to point the importance of this novel arrangement not only in the pumping sequence, but also in the priming cycle.

Further development and experience with the invention will dictate the most efficient masses, tolerances and ratios requirements to meet all operational loads and velocities.

While this invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment or embodiments of the invention, obviously modifications and alterations will occur to others upon reading and understanding of these specifications and drawings. It is my intention to include such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims except where limited by prior art.

Having thus described my invention patent letters are claimed for:

1. A self-priming axially fed, rotodynamic planetary qe t i alrym t r ip vertically split casing consisting of an inboard casing embodying an integral half of the cutwater wall, an outboard casing having an axially extendin fluid inlet and an integrated matching half of the cutwater wall, both casings having circular guiding cheek concave races in the inside face, a cylindrical peripheral closing ring embodying the discharge outlet 5,

a pair of 0 rings facing and following cylindrical closing ring and a flat gasket seal between closing ring and the casing,

a rotable impeller within the casing consisting of a radially fluted conical impulsor disc having a plurality of radially opposed through ports, a

coupling square center bore and a plurality of radially opposed round holes nesting same number of spheres having substantially the same diameter as said round holes, a uniform annular discharge chamber as formed by the split casings, obstructed by an integral cutwater wall having a set back recirculation dent at the lip joint and an air escape port at the intersection with the cylindrical closing ring in the neighborhood of the discharge outlet, a rotable cylindrical axle with a square portion at the inside part of the axle where it freely couples the impulsor disc, plurality of continuous through bolts, pressure washers and nuts holding the entire housing together. I 2. A self-priming, axial feed, roto-dynamic planetary centrifugal pump as set forth in claim I wherein said radially fluted impulsor disk 9 has radially opposed peripheral dents 4 with concave seats T 5 nesting said spheres 10', said impulsor disk having means to permit the disk to oscillate laterally and vertically with restricted designated clearance or play with the concave seats T. said peripheral indents 4 and said guiding cheek races C in the inside of said casings, thus permitting the removal and replacement of said axle by simply pulling the axle from the power connected side without disturbing the assembled arrangement of the pump parts.

3. A self-priming axially feed, rotodynamic planetary centrifugal pump of claim 1 wherein said plurality of spheres are hollow. said spheres having not less than two coplanar diametrically opposed ports for liquid to penetrate and be retained thereby in the 'hollow chambers of said vspheres whereby said reitained liquid will be discharged upon demand on the reduction of pumped liquid in an emergency to 'safely continue lubrication of the moving parts of the pump during the trip out. 5 

